Index system and means therefor



' Nov. 4, 1941. G. A.- vsMlTl-if INDEX SYSTEM AND MEANS THEREFOR FiledSept. 2l, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l h M BW@ Nov. 4, i941. G, A, SMITH2,261,861-

INDEX SYSTEM AND MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED sTaTas PATENT OFFICE.

INDEX SYSTEM AND MEANS THEREFOR Gordon A. Smith, Atlanta,` Ga.

Application September 21, 1939, Serial No. 235,974

7 Claims.

This invention relates to multiple cardindex systems and index cards tobe used therein, and is particularly concerned with systems in Which alarge variety of information is classied with respect to individualitems so that the characteristics desired` with respect to an individualitem may be lrapidly assimilated while at the same time visualindication is given summarizing the general characteristics of the itemunder consideration, thereby making an immediate conclusion possiblefrom a mere glance at the associated cards in the system.

This is particularly true in connection with the examination of talesmenfor jury service. One or more panels of jurymen are usually called at anopening session of court and must be examined rapidly under constantpressure from the court in order to obtain a jury. The data available tocounsel must be summarized and presented in such a. way that evaluationthereof is possible by a mere glance since there is not generally suiiiycient time available to study carefully the individual members of thevenire.

Among the objects of the present invention is a multiple card indexsystem supplying information with respect to one or more panels for juryservice enabling the rapid evaluation of information available withrespect to the members ofthe panel, so that counsel may at a momentsglance determine whether or not a juryman should be permitted to serveor should be challenged.

Other objects include multiple index cards permitting such structures tobe maintained.

Still further objects and advantages will appear from the more detaileddescription given below, it being understood, however, that this moredetailed description is given'by Way of illustration and explanationonly, and not by way of limitation, since Various changes therein may bemade by those skilled in the art Without departing from the scope andspirit of the present invention.

In connection with that more detailed description, there is shown in theaccompanying drawings; in

Figure 1, a plan View of one form of index card utilizable with thepresent system in unfolded relation to reveal the outer faces thereof;in

Figure 2, a view similar to that of Figure 1v of the card there shownexposing, however, the inner faces of the card; in

Figure 3, a plan view of a multiple card index system in accordance withthe present invention; and in Figure 4, a perspective view of the indexcard of Figures 1 and 2 modied for use in accordance with the presentinvention.

In accordance with the present invention, a series of index cards areassociated together into a card index system. to supply information withrespect to each of the members of aV jury panel which is available tocounsel at the time of selection of a jury and which not only gives himall of the information necessary to determine the ap-titude of aparticular jurymanv for service in the particular case at hand, but.Which also gives to counsel a visual indication or signal that may becomprehended by a mere glance with respect to any individuals'desirability for service in the particular type ofcase at hand.

For this purpose the system is made up with a series of index cardsthere being a cardsfor each member of the one or more jury panels lto beexamined at a particular court` session. A list of jury panelsk is4available from the clerk of the court and cards are accordingly made upand associatedr in the system as indicated in Figure 3, into groups inwhich each member of the panel is given a number corresponding with thenumber on the clerks list and the cards are segregated into groupscorresponding with `the panels arranged by the clerk of the court. ajuryman or prospective juryman is provided with the necessaryinformation placed thereon by printing, by typewriting, by script, or inother Ways to be indicated below. Desirably the cards are associatedtogether so that a small portion of each card is exposed successively inthe order of the numbers of the jurymen segregated with respect toparticular panels and lon the exposed portion of each of said cardsthere is in addition to the number designating lsuch juryman, an exposedvisual indication of the desirability of such juryman'for service in theparticular case. When the cards are associated in this way a mereglanceat the exposed portion of the cards held in some desirable holder,enables counsel to note in a mere glance. those jurymen who must bechallenged under any circumstances, those who may be subject tochallenge upon further questioning, and those that may desirably be usedin the trial of the case.

Systems of this `character have not heretofore been available althoughvarious sanguine means have. been used to give data with respect to jurypanels, yet such systems are of great importancel and perform amarkedpublic service in that Each of these ycards then representingv they tendto insure the selection of fairer juries and to eliminate undesirablejury members.

The utility of such systems largely depends on the rapidity with whichthev material-respecting any particular juror is classied and madeavailable and more particularly in the combination of the series ofcards which make such material available for the ventire panel or panelsand at the same time give visual indications even to a fleeting glanceof the general desirability of jurymen for particularcases.

A form of index card that may desirably-be employed in connection withthe systems covered in the present case, is illustrated in Figures l, 2and 4 of the drawings. For that purpose an index card is desirablyemployed which segregates the more permanent information with respect toan individual from information of a more confidential character andenables such information both general and confidential, to be utilizedor distributed either separately or conjointly. If a two-part card isemployed as is desirable, having front and rear portions, informationmay be placed on the inner face of the rear portion of the card and madeavailable by windows on the front portion of the card, vwhich windowsmay be permanently punched through the front face of the card to exposesuch information or may be revealed by tabs marked out on the front faceof the card and `adapted to be either removed entirely from the card orpartially removed to expose the information carried on the back of suchcard. For some purposes, more particularly hereinafter set forth, meansis provided to enable counsel examining such cards to indicate his ownconclusion with respect to the desirability of an individual for juryservice in the particular type of case athand so that if the cards areexamined before appearance in court, counsels own signal indicationswill give him the basis on which to formulate a judgment with respect tojurymen. Y v

-An index card desirably employed in accordance with the presentinvention includes as shown in the drawings, a multiple index cardhaving front and rear portions desirably hingedly` attached together. Asshown inthe drawings,'. the multiple index card has portions A and Bhingedly connected along the line 5 which desirably may be perforated inorder to .enable ready detachment of the two portions of the card. Theportion A indicates the face portion of the front of the card, while theletter B indicates the rear face of the back of the card. In Figure 2,the portion A indicates the inner face of the front part of the card,while the portion B indicates the inner face of the rear portion of thecard. The variouscomponent members of the card are desirably supplied ontheir exposed or exposable surfacesV with record data arranged,tabulated and classified with respect to the jurors suitability forservice in legal cases, particularly accident cases and criminal caseswhere the system has its primaryk utility.

In the body of the card there are defined areas 6, determined by linesof weakening or perforation 8. Similarly, along the bottom margin of thefront member, areas 'I are defined by perforatedlines 9. It will thus beseen that areas 6 and;1 are susceptible of complete removal orofa'partial separation from the body of the front member so' as tofunction as hingeable flaps or segments.l 1 i til aacfei On the innersurface B' of the rear member B delineated areas which desirably may bein color, although other indicia may be used, are placed thereon so thatwhen exposed through windows or openings in the front part A of thecard, visual indications are given with respect to certain data orcharacteristics of the individual jurymen. Any particular color schemesmay be used for this purpose contrasting colors being employed in groupsto differentiate markedly good and bad characteristics. Thus if a whitecard is employed colors such as red, yellow and green may desirably beemployed, and utilized in much the way they are mentally associatedtoday, green generally being used to indicate good characteristics, redbad characteristics, and yellow caution. Such a color arrangement withrespect to any group characteristics gives immediate visual indicationof the fitness of the individual under consideration. Thus in the colorarrangement shown in Figure 2 on B', IIJ designates a yellow coloredarea positioned to correspond with areas 6 and I3 of front member A. Itwill be seen from Figure l that both lines of perforation are desirablyemployed in some instances and not in others, thus areas 6 are definedby lines of perforation, while area I3 is not so marked out althoughweakening perforations might be arranged isdesired. This difference inconstruction depends on the utilization to be made. In the area I3 thecard will be punched through at an indicated point to expose a colorarea on B', whereas the areas 6 may be segregated one or more as desiredto expose one or more portions of the underlying colored areas on thesurface B. Similarly as indicated in Figure 2, the color scheme of red,yellow and green designated by numerals II, I0 and I2 respectively, ispositioned to correspond with area I4 of the front portion A of thecard, `as well as marginal areas 1.

It will be noted that each card gives all of the information that can beaccumulated with respect to a particular individual enabling rapidjudgment tobe made as to his tness for jury service. Such informationdesirably includes the record of cases in.which the juryman served andthe verdict rendered and comments thereon, the record of any litigationin which the juror himself was involved, physical disabilities of thejuror, his credit standing, education, employment, financial situation,character, lodge or church affiliations, indications as to the. sourceof the information obtained and means for summarizing thecharacterization of the individual,

both by counsel in the case and by others.

A series of cards of the character referred to may be filled in with thedata for the members of one or more jury panels and associated togetherin any desired holder to make them more readily usable and to give at aglance a general characterization of the individual juryman.l Thus asshown in Figure 3, a support is provided to which are hingedly attacheda plurality' of overlapping support cards I5, desirably associated sothat the lower marginal edges of each of the c'ards is exposedsuccessively. Desirably a transparent strip I9 is attached to each ofthe support cards I5 to cover the exposed lowerl marginaledges and toprovide a pocket on each of thesupport cards in which the multiple indexcards may be pl-aced. The tranSparentstrips I9 may for this purpose beclipped as by clip I 'I to the support card I5, a pocket I8 thus beingprovided. The lower marginal edge of the index card is positioned in-.said pocket 'I8 so that when the cards are 'associated as indicated inFigure 3 with the lower marginal edges of the successive cards showingthrough the transparent strips, there is immediately available at aglance a general summarizing characterization of the jury-panel membersarranged by numbers corresponding with the numbers of the jurymen on theclerks panel list and a general color or other visual indication of thefitness of the individual juryman as well as a similar indication by theindividual attorney with respect to such juryman for the particularcase.

In the operation or utilization of the device,

which in its preferred embodiment is arranged f as a jury index card,the available infomation is preferably typewritten in the spacescorresponding with the record data. Similarly, if so desired, theavailable facts are typewritten inthe areas defined by lines ofperforation, such as areas 6 and 1. When it is deemed advisable not toreveal such information on its face, it is merely necessary to cut thelines of perforation on three sides to thereby attain a hingeable flapor segment which may be folded underneath the` outer surface of frontelement A,.to reveal merely a color indication. It will be noted thatthese flaps or segments are susceptible of receiving written matter oneither the outer surface or the inner surface; in other words, it ispossible to note on the inner surface of the segment or flap details inelaboration of the information apparent on the face of the flap orsegment. Instead of providing the available information by typewrittenmatter on the segment, the device lends itself to supplying thetypewritten matter on the inner surface B' corresponding to the windowdetermined by the given flap or segment; thus details may be stated onthe colored area in -back of segment B which corresponds to Judgment,whereas the flap per se serves as a concealing element. Whether or notthe said flaps or segments per se bear written matter, it is apparentthat they may be positioned so as to conceal details of a confidentialnature; in the event that such details vary from time to time, thesurfaces available for receiving typewritten matter, corresponding withgiven record data, make it possible to alter the index informationwithout necessitating the use of a new card.

In the event that the information is of a permanent nature, the areas 6or 'l may be completely removed to reveal the corresponding colorindication. Conversely they may be retained in situ without tearing thelines of perforation, and bearing the available information. In thisconnection, it will be noted that the spaces designated as I3 and I4correspond with colored areas on the inner surface of the rear elementB; information of the type designated in these spaces is considered asof a permanent nature without subject to variation, and for this purposeareas determined by lines of weakening or perforation are not necessary.Therefore, when it is desired to record information in spaces I3 or I4,it is merely necessary to perforate or punch a hole I6 in front member Awhereby the colored area on B becomes apparent as a permanent signal orrecord.

The area 1, shown as a segment o-r flap in per` spective view 4,functions similarly to areas or segments 6. These marginal indicationsare of material significance in view of the fact that,

as shown in Figure 3, they are apparent in a system of visible cardindexing. Thus, if it is believed that a' particular person ispeculiarly qualified as a juryman in injury cases, it is mere- 'lynecessary to remove the area 'I'corresponding with the data on B relatedthereto; as aresult thereof a green coloration becomes exposed with, ifdesired,y appropriate terminology printed or written thereon to indicate.in a visible index system, such as shown in Figure 3, that the personis Good injury cases. Similarly, in the event that a prospective jurymanis rated by different attorneys, the attorney may supply his initials ona segment or flap '1, either surface, to conform with va predeterminedcoloration; .in the event that another attorney reaches a differentconclusion, thefirst segment is folded back vinto'its normal positioncovering the previous coloration and the new rating coloration isexposed for 'service in the visible index system. Instead of initialingthe flap or segment, the attorneys' identification may be written on thesurface B contiguous to the applicable rating coloration.

Should it be determined to retain one card as strictly confidentialwhile the others `serve for purposes of information, as above indicated,

members A and B are separably attached to eachk other by virtue of theperforated line 5. In this connection, it should be noted that theinnersurfaces of the multiple card are available for recording ofinformation; therefore, each card may be complete as to the respectivetypes of details, namely, confidential information and generalinformation.

, It will thus be seen that the invention provides a multiple card indexof compact proportions, and which is particularly serviceable inconnection with the cataloging of confidential and general information.The device is particularly effective for the purpose of recordingvariable or confidential information as well as providing changes incorresponding signal indications. It is particularly iiexible in usage,and is especially efficient in a visible card index system. Furthermore,the device affords the possibility of innumerable combinations of signalindications not heretofore attainable, especially because of theprovision of indexing areas defined by lines of weakening orperforation.

`I-Iaving thus set forth my invention, I claim: 1. An index cardcomprising superimposed front and rear members, the front member be-`ing provided both within its body removed from its margins and also atits lower marginal portion with means partially detachable foruncovering and exposing any selected one or more of a series ofvariegated predetermined areas of the rear member, the latter carryingindicia indicating varying qualities with respect to some characteristicto be indicated, the uncovering and exposing means being adapted toindicate selectively the chosen quality of said characteristic, asdesired.

2. A multiple index card comprising a front member provided with recorddata and a multiplicity of corresponding delineated blank spaces on itsouter surface, asimilar rear member integral with and hingeably attachedto the said front member, and a multiplicity of means in said blankspaces of said front member which may receive written matter and bevariably positioned by partial detachment and bending relfront member atthe said blank spaces which may be moved to expose an indication fromaselected portion of the said areas of indicia.

4. A multiple index card comprising a front member provided with recorddata and corresponding delineated blank spaces on its outer face, asimilar rear member integral with and hingeably atached to thev saidfront member, and areas in the said blankspaces determined by lines ofperforation, which areas may receive Written matter and may becompletely removed or variably and concealably positioned relative tothe said front member.

5. A multiple .index card comprising a front member provided With recorddata and corresponding delineated blank spaces on its outer face, asimilar rear member integral with and separably and hingeably attachedto the said front member, variegated areas on the inner surface of thesaid rear member' corresponding with said blank spaces, and means in thefront member at the said blank spaces which may be moved to expose avariegated area from a selected portion of the variegated areas of theinner surface of the rear member.

6. A multiple index card for supplying information with respect tomembers of jury panels said card comprising a front member provided withrecord data to indicate varying qualities with respect to acharacteristic pertinent to jury duty and a multiplicity ofcorresponding blank spaces on its outer surface, a similar rear memberintegral with and hingeably attached to the said front member andcomprising variegated portions to indicate varying qualities withrespect to acharact'eristc pertinent to jury duty,

`and Vaiin'ultiplioity of partially detachable areas comprisingselective means carried in the blank spaces of said front member whichmay receive written matter and may be variably positioned relative tothe said front member to indicate fselectively a number of predeterminedqualities with respect to a, particular venireman.

7. A multiple index card for supplying information with respect tomembers of jury panels said card comprising a front member providedvvithl record data to indicate varying qualities with respect to acharacteristic pertinent to jury duty vand a multiplicity ofcorresponding blank vfront member at the said blank spaces comprisingareas determined by lines of perforation said areas being adapted forreceiving written matter to indicate a quality with respect to acharacteristic pertinent to jury duty, said perforation delineated areasconstituting selective means carried on the front member of said cardand being adapted for complete removal or to variable and concealablepositioning relative to the front member to expose a color indicationfrom a selected portion ofthe variegated colored areas of the innersurface of the rear member thereby to indicate selectively a number ofpredetermined qualities with respect to. a particular venireman.

GORDON A. SMITH.

